Usually it is a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) that can mimic a panic attack. SVT is unlikely to be fatal in an otherwise healthy young person. The need for a Holter monitor really depends on how likely your doctor thinks it is that you have an arrhythmia.
The symptoms of panic attack and arrhythmia can be very similar. Wearing a continuous EKG monitor while you have symptoms would be a way to distinguish the two.
Strictly speaking, if you do not have your skipped beats while having your EKG it is not possible to be 100% sure what the skipped beats are due to. However, your doctor is probably making an educated guess as to what you are having.
what kind of arrythmia could mimic panic attack symptoms and could it be deadly? Do you strongly recommend that I wear a holter monitor?
SORRY, I didn't want to take up another space, but I have one more question. My diagnosis of MVP came about after episodes of so-called panic attacks. I have never actually been to a doc. when I was having an attack, so 1)does that mean I could have some other type of problem? 2)What type of arrythmia could resemble a panic attack and are there any ways to distinguish?
3)I can't tell if I bring on the panic (by constantly worrying about it) or if there is really something wrong with me- is there anyway to tell the differenc between a mental illness and a physical illness? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!